• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2013

In order to investigate an influence of carrier trap by quantum dots (QDs) on the solar parameters, in this study, the $p^+-QD-n/n^+$ solar cells with InAs/GaAs QD active layers are fabricated, and their characteristics are investigated and compared with those of a GaAs matrix solar cell (MSC). Two different types of QD structures, the Stranski-Krastanow (SK) QD and the quasi-monolayer (QML) QD, have been introduced for the QD solar cells, and the parameters (open-circuit voltage ($V_{OC}$), short-cirucuit current ($I_{SC}$), fill factor (FF), conversion efficiency (CE)) are determined from the current-voltage characteristic curves under a standard solar illumination (AM1.5). In SK-QSC, while FF of 80.0% is similar to that of MSC (80.3%), $V_{OC}$ and $J_{SC}$ are reduced by 0.03 V and $2.6mA/cm^2$, respectively. CE is lowered by 2.6% as results of reduced $V_{OC}$ and $J_{SC}$, which is due to a carrier trap into QDs. Though another alternative structure of QML-QD to be expected to relieve the carrier trap have been firstly tried for QSC in this study, it shows negative results contrary to our expectations.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.606-610
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• 2010

Films consisting of a silicon quantum dot superlattice were fabricated by alternating deposition of silicon rich silicon nitride and $Si_3N_4$ layers using an rf magnetron co-sputtering system. In order to use the silicon quantum dot super lattice structure for third generation multi junction solar cell applications, it is important to control the dot size. Moreover, silicon quantum dots have to be in a regularly spaced array in the dielectric matrix material for in order to allow for effective carrier transport. In this study, therefore, we fabricated silicon quantum dot superlattice films under various conditions and investigated crystallization behavior of the silicon quantum dot super lattice structure. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra showed an increased intensity of the $840\;cm^{-1}$ peak with increasing annealing temperature due to the increase in the number of Si-N bonds. A more conspicuous characteristic of this process is the increased intensity of the $1100\;cm^{-1}$ peak. This peak was attributed to annealing induced reordering in the films that led to increased Si-$N_4$ bonding. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed that peak position was shifted to higher bonding energy as silicon 2p bonding energy changed. This transition is related to the formation of silicon quantum dots. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis also confirmed the formation of silicon quantum dots. This study revealed that post annealing at $1100^{\circ}C$ for at least one hour is necessary to precipitate the silicon quantum dots in the $SiN_x$ matrix.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.189-189
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• 2012

Lead sulfide (PbS) nanocrystal quantum dots (NQDs) are promising materials for various optoelectronic devices, especially solar cells, because of their tunability of the optical band-gap controlled by adjusting the diameter of NQDs. PbS is a IV-VI semiconductor enabling infrared-absorption and it can be synthesized using solution process methods. A wide choice of the diameter of PbS NQDs is also a benefit to achieve the quantum confinement regime due to its large Bohr exciton radius (20 nm). To exploit these desirable properties, many research groups have intensively studied to apply for the photovoltaic devices. There are several essential requirements to fabricate the efficient NQDs-based solar cell. First of all, highly confined PbS QDs should be synthesized resulting in a narrow peak with a small full width-half maximum value at the first exciton transition observed in UV-Vis absorbance and photoluminescence spectra. In other words, the size-uniformity of NQDs ought to secure under 5%. Second, PbS NQDs should be assembled carefully in order to enhance the electronic coupling between adjacent NQDs by controlling the inter-QDs distance. Finally, appropriate structure for the photovoltaic device is the key issue to extract the photo-generated carriers from light-absorbing layer in solar cell. In this step, workfunction and Fermi energy difference could be precisely considered for Schottky and hetero junction device, respectively. In this presentation, we introduce the strategy to obtain high performance solar cell fabricated using PbS NQDs below the size of the Bohr radius. The PbS NQDs with various diameters were synthesized using methods established by Hines with a few modifications. PbS NQDs solids were assembled using layer-by-layer spin-coating method. Subsequent ligand-exchange was carried out using 1,2-ethanedithiol (EDT) to reduce inter-NQDs distance. Finally, Schottky junction solar cells were fabricated on ITO-coated glass and 150 nm-thick Al was deposited on the top of PbS NQDs solids as a top electrode using thermal evaporation technique. To evaluate the solar cell performance, current-voltage (I-V) measurement were performed under AM 1.5G solar spectrum at 1 sun intensity. As a result, we could achieve the power conversion efficiency of 3.33% at Schottky junction solar cell. This result indicates that high performance solar cell is successfully fabricated by optimizing the all steps as mentioned above in this work.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2015

This review article summarizes the recent progress of quantum dot (QD)-sensitized solar cells based on mesoporous $TiO_2$ thin films. From the intrinsic characteristics of nanoscale inorganic QDs with various compositions, it was possible to construct a variety of 3rd-generation thin film solar cells by solution process. Depending on preparation methods, colloidal QD sensitizers are pre-prepared for later deposition onto the surface of $TiO_2$ or in-situ deposition of QDs from chemical bath is done for direct growth of QD sensitizers over substrates. Recently, colloidal QD sensitizers have shown an overall power conversion efficiency of ~7% by a very precise control of composition while a representative CdS/CdSe from chemical bath deposition have done ~5% with polysulfide electrolytes. In the near future, it is necessary to carry out systematic investigations for developing new hole-conducting materials and controlling interfaces within the cell, thus leading to an enhancement of both open-circuit voltage and fill factor while keeping the current high value of photocurrents from QDs towards more efficient and stable QD-sensitized solar cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2009.08a
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• pp.265-265
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• 2009

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2010.03b
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• pp.40-40
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• 2010

CdSe nanocrystals (NCs) have been decorated on singlewalled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by combining a method of chemically modified substrate along with gate-bias control. CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots were negatively charged by adding mercaptoacetic acid (MAA). The silicon oxide substrate was decorated by octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) and converted to hydrophobic surface. The negatively charged CdSe NCs were adsorbed on the SWCNT surface by applying the negative gate bias. The selective adsorption of CdSe quantum dots on SWCNTs was confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscope. The measured photocurrent clearly demonstrates that CdSe NCs decorated SWCNT can be used for photodetector and solar cell that are operable over a wide range of wavelengths.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.352-357
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• 2009

The InAs multi-quantum dots (MQDs) solar cell and InGaAs multi-quantum wells (MQWs) solar cell to cover 1.1 eV and 1.3 eV were designed by 1D poisson, respectively. The MQDs and MQWs of 5, 10, 15 layers were grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The photo luminescence results showed that the 5 period stacked MQDs have the highest intensity at around 1.1 eV with 57.6 meV full width at half maximum (FWHM). Also we can observe 10 period stacked MQWs peak position which has highest intensity at 1.31 eV with 12.37 meV FWHM. The density and size of QDs were observed by reflection high energy electron diffraction pattern and atomic force microscope. Futhermore, AlGaAs/GaAs sandwiched tunnel junctions were modified according to the width of GaAs layer on p-type GaAs substrates. The structures with GaAs width of 30 nm and 50 nm have backward diode characteristics. In contrast, tunnel diode characteristics were observed in the 20 nm of that of sample.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.104-111
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• 2019

Metal halide perovskite materials are considered as promising semiconducting materials for next-generation solar cells due to their unique electrical and optical properties. Intensive progress in perovskite solar cell yielded a certified power conversion efficiency over 24%. However, most of highly efficient perovskite solar cells required Pb-based perovskite materials, which is a critical obstacle for their commercialization, and development of Pb-free perovskite materials is one of recent urgent issues in this field. In this paper, we will introduce recent research progress on Pb-free perovskite solar cells.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.318-321
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• 2007

CdSe nanoparticles were prepared by chemical solution methods using $CdCl_2{\cdot}4H_2O$ (or $Cd(NO_3)_ 2{\cdot}4H_2O$) and $Na_2SeSO_3$. The characteristics of CdSe nanoparticles were controlled by the react ion time, reaction temperature and reaction method as well as the surfactants. Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide(CTAB) was used as a capping agent to control the chemical reactions in aqueous solution. Polyvinylalcohol(PVA) was used as a templet in sono-chemical method. CdSe nanoparticles synthesized in aqueous solution showed homogeneous size distribution with relatively stable surface. CdSe nanoparticles synthesized in non-aqueous solution containing diethanolamine(DEA) showed the structure transformation from cubic to hexagonal as the reduction temperature increased from 80 to $160^{\circ}C$. Core shell CdSe was synthesized by sono-chemical method. Characteristics of CdSe nanoparticles were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy(TEM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), x-ray diffraction(XRD), UV-Vis absorption spectra, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR) and photoluminescence spectra spectroscopy(PL). This paper presents simple routes to prepare CdSe nanoparticles for solar cell applications.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.533-534
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• 2012

Colloidal III-V semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots (NQDs) have attracted attention as they can be applied in various areas such as LED, solar cell, biological imaging, and so on because they have decreased ionic lattices, lager exciton diameter, and reduced toxicity compared with II-VI compounds. However, the study and application of III-V semiconductor nanocrystals is limited by difficulties in control nucleation because the molecular bonds in III-V semiconductors are highly covalent compared to II-VI compounds. There is a need for a method that provides rapid and scalable production of highly quality nanoparticles. We present a new synthetic scheme for the preparation of InP nanocrystal quantum dots using new phosphorus precursor, P(SiMe2tbu)3. InP nanocrystals from 530nm to 600nm have been synthesized via the reaction of In(Ac)3 and new phosphorus precursor in noncoordinating solvent, ODE. This opens the way for the large-scale production of high quality Cd-free nanocrystal quantum dots.